Tuesday Random Thoughts and Picks

- Northwestern was nowhere to be found in any of the Monday bracket predictions, for pretty obvious reasons (3-6 in the Big Ten). They will probably need to go 4-0 over the next 2 weeks to get back into the national discussion. Notre Dame, the best win on the 'Cats non-conference schedule, saw their NCAA chances take a huge hit Saturday as they lost to lowly Rutgers.

- The Northwestern women's basketball team has been doing well by their standards, at 13-9 overall and 4-7 in the league. The 13 wins is their most in a season in over a decade, pretty depressing. I don't follow the women's team at all and haven't seen them play, but if any readers have seen them and want to talk about the team, feel free to post some game recaps or analysis in the FanPosts.

- All the talk yesterday revolved around the news that the NCAA tournament could very well expand to 96 teams as soon as next year, despite the fact that every single fan is against it. That article also mentions the possibility of a 68 team tournament, no idea how that would work, 4 play-in games I guess?

- Now time for tonight's pick:

Michigan State at Wisconsin (-2), 8 PM, ESPN

I have to say I am surprised by this line. I know Wisconsin never loses at home, and I know Michigan State has barely escaped in their past 2 road games against teams worse than Wisconsin, but still, Michigan State has so much more talent they should probably be a slight favorite here. Wisconsin is just 3-2 without Leuer and that includes two very narrow escapes at home against Michigan and Penn State. So even though I will probably regret this pick tomorrow, I'm taking Michigan State and the points.

Pick: Michigan State

Season records

Big Ten games: 17-17-2
Northwestern games: 11-2